BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 1 3 



mollusks. The entomology is varied and interesting. Mosquitoes 

 and sucli troublesome species are not common in winter except on 

 the outer islands, where sand-flies are also numerous. Many species 

 of lepidoptera and diptera abound throughout the group, especially 

 during the summer season. 



Many of the islands are infested with centipedes. At Nassau 

 they were numerous, and occasionally a tarantula was seen, but the 

 latter is by no means common, although during the hot summer 

 months they, as well as curious and gigantic land-crabs, are to be 

 found in abundance. About May ist the heat begins to grow 

 oppressive, and later it becomes almost unbearable, the mercury 

 rising to 165° and even 170° in the middle of the day, when 

 exposed to the heat of the sun ; but, as a general rule, the morn- 

 ings and evenings are very pleasant. I include below the average 

 temperature, taken during the month of June while cruising among 

 the islands. On cloudy days the sun temperature was not taken, 

 and in nearly all cases being taken on the deck of the vessel, in 

 all probability it was slightly affected by the breeze. 



8 A. M. 12 Noon. 12 Noon. 6 P. M. 



Shade. Shade. Sun. Shade. 



82 86.1- ii8| 81 1 



Myriads of insects abound at this season, and render the 

 southern islands almost uninhabitable. At Inagua w^e found them 

 especially numerous and troublesome. The inhabitants stated that 



